Post-neoadjuvant and peri-operative ctDNA-defined minimal residual disease in triple-negative breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Blood tests detecting residual cancer DNA after treatment strongly predict recurrence in triple-negative breast cancer, potentially guiding earlier intervention decisions.
This systematic review of 22 studies confirms that post-neoadjuvant ctDNA positivity in TNBC with residual disease is associated with nearly 5-fold increased recurrence risk (HR 4.63), supporting ctDNA as a clinically meaningful MRD biomarker in this high-risk group. The small number of studies (4) contributing to the pooled estimate warrants cautious interpretation and calls for prospective standardized validation.
What the study was
- Study design
- Systematic review and meta-analysis (22 studies; 4 in primary quantitative synthesis)
- Population
- Adults with TNBC treated with neoadjuvant therapy and surgery; focus on residual invasive disease subgroups
- Category
- Early Detection
- Maturity
- Validated
- Journal
- Breast Cancer Res Treat
Why it surfaced
First meta-analysis to pool ctDNA MRD outcomes in TNBC with residual disease; HR 4.63 is clinically impactful and I²=0% indicates consistency across studies. TNBC has poor prognosis with residual disease — validated ctDNA MRD could guide escalation decisions (e.g., capecitabine, olaparib). Limitation: only 4 studies contribute primary estimate.
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